Roof Replacement in Washington Township, Lycoming County, PA
Washington Township has 619 homes, and half of them were standing by 1978. What the code requires when that roof is replaced, and who signs off, is below.
New Roofing Costs connects homeowners with independent local roofing contractors. We do not perform roofing work.
This number connects homeowners who are planning a new roof or a full roof replacement with independent local roofing contractors. It is not for leak repairs or patch jobs. The call must come from the homeowner who decides on the roof. Calls may be recorded.
The rules for a reroof in Washington Township
Permit
Washington Township’s ordinance decides
Pennsylvania’s code leaves residential alterations without structural change to local ordinance (34 Pa. Code § 403.1(b)(8)). So the township code office in Washington Township is the one to ask before work starts.
On a roof that already carries two layers, or slate or tile, the code allows no recover: it is a tear-off (IRC R908.3.1.1). With 58% of Washington Township’s homes were built before 1980, ask what is under the newest layer.
Whether an eave membrane is a code item depends on the climate table the municipality filled in when it adopted the code (IRC R905.1.2, Table R301.2). Ask the township code office or the contractor what Washington Township’s says.
Of 578 occupied homes in Washington Township, 522 (90%) are owner-occupied. Counting by decade, 12% before 1940, 20% before 1960, 58% before 1980 of the housing was in place, and 16% dates from 2000 on. (ACS 2020–2024.)
The housing is 95% detached houses, 4% manufactured homes.
Of the 26 Lycoming County municipalities on this site, Washington Township has the 15th largest share of homes built before 1980: 58%, against a county range of 42% to 93%.
Median built: median year the homes were built. Before 1980: share of homes built then. Owners: share of homes that are owner-occupied. Row, twin: share of homes that are rowhouses, twins or townhouses. Census ACS 2020–2024. Hail days: days with hail of 1 inch or larger within 10 miles, 2006–2025, NOAA Storm Prediction Center.
Hail and storms near Washington Township
Since 2006 the National Weather Service has logged hail of 1 inch or larger on 5 separate days within 10 miles of Washington Township; the largest was 3 in on May 28, 2019.
That is fewer than most places in the state on this site (median 12 days).
Lycoming County has had 3 federal major-disaster declarations for storms since 2006; the latest was DR-4815, Tropical Storm Debby (September 2024). (OpenFEMA.)
HUD’s useful-life figures are for planning; a warranty is a separate promise. For Washington Township’s houses: More in the guides to shingles, metal, slate and flat roofs.
Material
HUD useful life
Fits a house like
Watch for
Asphalt shingles
20 years
Most pitched roofs; 95% of homes here are detached
Wind class set by the design wind speed (IRC Table R905.2.4.1)
Metal (standing seam, panels)
50 years
Roofs that will carry solar later
A complete standing-seam system may go over the old roof (R908.3.1)
Slate
75 years
Older houses; 12% here predate 1940
Can’t be roofed over; check the framing for the weight
Flat roof: EPDM or TPO
15 years
Additions and porch roofs
Coating is not a replacement
Checking a contractor in Pennsylvania
A contractor who does $5,000 or more of home improvement work a year must be registered with the Pennsylvania Attorney General, and the number has to be on every contract and estimate (HICPA § 3, § 6). Ask for it before anyone starts on a roof in Washington Township, and search it.
Does a roof replacement in Washington Township need a permit?
Washington Township’s ordinance decides. Pennsylvania’s code leaves residential alterations without structural change to local ordinance (34 Pa. Code § 403.1(b)(8)). So the township code office in Washington Township is the one to ask before work starts.
Do the old shingles have to come off in Washington Township?
On a roof that already carries two layers, or slate or tile, the code allows no recover: it is a tear-off (IRC R908.3.1.1). With 58% of Washington Township’s homes were built before 1980, ask what is under the newest layer.
When were most homes in Washington Township built?
By the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (2020–2024), the median home in Washington Township was built in 1978, 58% of homes were built before 1980, 90% are owner-occupied.
Does Washington Township get hail that damages roofs?
Hail of 1 inch or larger was reported on 5 days within 10 miles of Washington Township from 2006 through 2025 (NOAA Storm Prediction Center). A report means hail fell nearby, not that a roof was damaged.
What license or registration should a roofer in Washington Township have?
A contractor who does $5,000 or more of home improvement work a year must be registered with the Pennsylvania Attorney General, and the number has to be on every contract and estimate (HICPA § 3, § 6). Ask for it before anyone starts on a roof in Washington Township, and search it.
What they will ask on the phone
Your address or ZIP code in Washington Township
One story or two (or more), detached or attached
The roof you have today, shingle, metal, slate, tile or flat, and its rough age
How many layers are on it, if you know
Your timing for a complete replacement
Whether the house is in a historic district or an HOA